August 14, 2018FAQComments Off on When Do Puppies Start Teething (and What to Do)?

Dogs grow 2 sets of teeth. Their baby teeth grow first, followed by their adult teeth. Humans take months and years to get a complete set of teeth. Dogs, however, do it in only months. You have to know when and how long puppies teeth to make the entire process easy for your pooch.

When Do Puppies Start Teething?

The pup’s baby teeth start growing between 3 and 5 weeks of age. All their baby teeth are developed by the time they are 8 weeks old. They start growing their adult teeth around age 4 to 6 months of age.

What to Do When Your Puppy is Teething

Dogs start growing teeth as they start weaning off their mother’s milk and changing to solid food. Their baby teeth serve as a guide for the adult teeth. The adult teeth grow in the gaps between the baby teeth. There are some things that you can do when your puppy is teething. You can give him a cold carrot to soothe his gums. A chilled carrot is also rich in potassium, Vitamins K and A and Omega 6 fatty acids. Since carrots are high in fiber, you should give only one carrot to your puppy every day to prevent stomach upsets.

You can also teach him the “leave it” command to avoid having a tug of war with your puppy over a valuable object. This command is taught by playing tug with the puppy with a favorite toy. Say “leave it” when you want your pup to let go of the toy. Hold the toy with one hand and use your other hand to produce a treat. Reward your puppy with the treat when he lets go of the toy. Praise him by saying “good leave it.” Sooner or later, you have to replace the treat with another preferred toy. Alternate between a treat and a reward of preferred toy until your puppy completely understands what “leave it” means and what he has to do.

Soft mouth training may also help. Lie on the floor with your puppy while playing a game of tug. Remove the toy from his mouth and play with his lower jaw. If he bites down hard, you should make a high pitched “ouch.” If the puppy doesn’t stop, say a firm “no” and close his mouth gently but firmly for 1 to 2 seconds. This method … Read the rest

August 14, 2018FAQComments Off on Do Dogs Get Acid Reflux (Heartburn)?

Can dogs get acid reflux? Some individuals think that acid reflux only happens in humans, but the truth is, acid reflux in dogs is also possible.

Acid reflux in dogs is also referred to as gastroesophageal reflux. This occurs when enzymes and acid from the intestines and the stomach, which aid in digestion, move to the esophagus. Reflux in dogs results in discomfort, and this condition can be risky since the digestive system’s acidic contents can damage the lining of the esophagus resulting in an ulcer.

Although symptoms of acid reflux in dogs are not really life-threatening, inflammation and irritation of the esophagus can still result to thinning, narrowing or can cause necrosis. The consistent regurgitation, which is also one of the several symptoms of acid reflux in dogs, can cause the vomit to enter the dog’s lungs. This can lead to even more severe damages.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Dogs

Acid reflux might be difficult to determine since dogs are unable to tell their masters why and when they are feeling uncomfortable. However, there are several signs and symptoms of acid reflux in dogs that you need to pay attention to such as:

Wheezing

Burping, gagging, and gurgling

Weak vomiting after their meals

Weight loss

Loss of appetite

Lethargy or inactivity after meals

Excessive salivating in severe acid reflux cases

Evidence of pain such howling or winning after or during meals

What to Do

No pet dog owner ever wanted to see their pets suffering so if you notice these symptoms of acid reflux in dogs, the best thing to do is to visit and consult a veterinarian. Veterinarians can run particular tests to diagnose acid reflux in dogs correctly. If you are suspecting your dog to be suffering from this condition, seeking help with a trusted veterinarian can help save your dog from the complicated situation.

Allow your dog to undergo a test known as esophagoscopy wherein; an internal camera is being used to take a look on the lining of the esophagus and see if the mucus lining already deteriorated. This test is also conducted to determine if there are signs of bleeding and other irregularities.

Also, the most widely-employed treatment for acid reflux in dogs is to feed them with several meals all throughout the day. You might ask yourself; “what can I give my dog for acid reflux?” You can follow this widely-employed treatment … Read the rest

Can Dogs Eat Asparagus?

Asparagus is considered one of the healthiest foods in the world. This is one of the most favorite low-calorie and nutrient-dense snacks among many. Deliciously cooked or raw, asparagus remains frequently found the ingredient in the kitchen and commonly used in juices, salads and other main courses. Asparagus is a delicious vegetable loaded with essential minerals and vitamins. This is a very healthy food for humans. But, what about with dogs? Can dogs eat asparagus as well?

Can Dogs Eat Asparagus? Is Asparagus Good for Dogs?

The answer to these questions is yes. However, you must feed it to your dogs the right way. Asparagus is ultimately wholesome, so it’s no longer surprising to see dog owners sharing this food with their precious pets. Asparagus is known to be low in calorie content. However, this is packed with a high nutritional punch. For sure, your dogs can benefit from iron, copper, vitamin K, Vitamin B1 and B2 and many other essential vitamins and minerals.

So if you were to ask, “can a dog eat asparagus?” it’s definitely a yes. This can be given to your dogs safely as a nutritious snack or simple treat, and this can provide your dogs array of health benefits. This veggie contains more considerable amount of natural antioxidants that help in flushing out toxins from your pet dog’s system. These antioxidants are also crucial in keeping your pets healthy.

Is Asparagus Bad for Dogs?

The safety and benefits of feeding your dogs with asparagus are given BUT, there are certain things that dog owners need to pay close attention to. Now, is asparagus bad for dogs? Yes, only if you feed them with toxic asparagus fern. The asparagus itself is excellent, but according to research, there are types of asparagus that are toxic.

Do not let your dogs consumed such types nor let them play close to toxic asparagus ferns. The leaves of the plant can kill your dogs and can cause diarrhea and severe intestinal discomfort. Asparagus can also present choking hazards especially if eaten raw. The stalks of asparagus can be tough, and this is one of the reasons why humans do not typically eat this food fresh. Dogs might similarly have a hard time chewing the fresh stalks of the asparagus as these can be a serious choking hazard. It would be best to cook asparagus lightly … Read the rest

When we think of our aminals, we think about what they eat and what makes them happy.

Whenever a child draws a picture of a dog, often times they will draw a classically shaped chicken bone next to their four-legged friend.

While many owners give their cats and dogs bones, many argue about the safety of giving a dog a bone and whether it is safe for dogs to eat pork.

I have been asked the question many times, “can dogs have pork bones?”

The truthful answer to that question is maybe.

The problem with bones is not the bone itself, but whether or not it is safe for them to eat.

Any pork bone you give your dog must be soft. If it is not then you run the risk of shards cutting the dogs throat and stomach.

Whatsmore, some dogs teeth are not strong enough to break the bone into small enough parts to safely eat a nice pork bone.

Is Pork Bad for Dogs?

Pork to me is a delicious and lean meat and I personally feed it to my dog.

He has never exhibited any stomach complaints and I have even given it to him raw.

The American Kennel Club indicates that this is not a yes-no question. The association is of the opinion raw pork is bad for dogs because of potential parasites in the meat known as Trichinella spiralis.

Some dogs have stronger stomachs than others but if you are nervous then don’t gamble with your pets life.

Is Pork Good for Dogs?

The general consensus is that pork is never good for your dog, and yet we see it as the basis for several dog foods both wet and dry, so how can this be?

The answer is simple, the pork is treated in certain ways that allow for dogs to safely consume the product. I have given my dog cooked pork on many occasions and experienced no issues, but not two dogs are the same.

If you wish to feed your dog pork, then try a small sample to see how it sits. If the dog doesn’t get sick and seems like they want more then try another bite.

When all is said and done, you are the dogs’ owner and their care is your responsibility, so if in doubt, don’t feed them pork

July 19, 2018FAQComments Off on How to Put Ear Drops in a Difficult or Aggressive Dog

Ear infections are a part of a dog’s life. If you have a fur baby, you may already be familiar with it. The ears of the dog get swollen and are difficult to treat. It is always advisable to get them checked by a vet instead of trying to apply home remedies or tonics.

Dog ears become painful due to infection and the harder you try to give him eardrops, the more your dog will resist and may even become aggressive.

In this situation, either you can take your pup to the vet for each does or you can try to do it yourself. And if you have as much trouble getting your dog to go to the vet as I do, you’ll probably want to learn how to do it at home.

Ways to Put Drops in Your Dog’s Ears

To help you with this task, here are some tips and ways where you can go through this process with ease:

The first thing you can do to make your dog calm while putting eardrops in his ear is to rub your dog all over his body giving him a massage along with his ears so that he doesn’t get super sensitive when you are putting eardrops into his ears. It will be helpful if you keep the ear drops out of his sight so that he doesn’t panic or get anxious. Always give a tasty treat to your dog afterwards as a reward if he behaves well and doesn’t flinch to train him to behave next time as well and refuse to reward him if he behaves otherwise.

Another way to put eardrops into your dog’s ears is to sneak up on him while he is sleeping. It is the easiest way and your dog won’t know what hit him. But you should be careful if your dog is sleep aggressive.

You can also make a game out of this. Some people tend to sing a song and play with their dogs which make the dogs more willing to let you put the medicine into their ears. One particular lady I know starts singing while she pokes and massages different parts of her doggy’s body, then goes to open the refrigerator and makes the dog follow her. She then puts the medicine into the ears one by one, rubs the ears, and then again goes to the refrigerator

June 28, 2018ToysComments Off on Why You Should Consider Chew Toys for Your Furry Friend

Koda loved to chew, and it didn’t matter what it was. She even gnawed the mud flaps off our car when she was in the garage. Next, she started in on the sheetrock in the same garage. Hunger? Boredom? Don’t know, but chew toys and bones became an economic necessity.

I used to purchase substantial, meaty dog bones from the butcher to satisfy her chewing desires. Great, except she buried the bones under prize rose brushes and dug up baby trees to hide her bounty. Instinct? Probably. Koda was a 130 lb. Alaskan Malamute and thought she had to cure her food.

We purchased inedible dog chews, like Nylabones, but she chewed right through them. I guess she ate them. We never had problems, but it was scary. Koda passed away when she was ten years old. I have wondered if it was from the dog chews that caused digestive problems. Probably not, but I need to blame something for my loss.

Dogs love to chew. Chewing is their way of exploring their world, alleviating teeth pain or discomfort, cleaning their teeth, strengthening their jaws, and combating boredom. The question is, what do you want to give your dog to chew? If you don’t provide them with something, they will find their own chew toy, and it probably won’t be a chew toy you want them to have.

Ingredients in Nylabones

Nylabones have been making non-edible chew toys, edible chews, and dental solutions for dogs since 1955. The company is family founded, veterinarian recommended and designed to strengthen the bond between pets and people.

The company makes several types of chew toys, but the most popular are the ones that come in various shapes and sizes and made of rubber, nylon or plastic. These are definitely not edible, and if your dog accidentally breaks off part of a non-edible Nylabones, they can have serious digestive problems.

Nylabones’ edible chews come in different flavors. With trial and error, you can choose the chew your dog prefers. The ingredients in chewable Nylabones include different flavorings, proteins, and starches – like most dog treats. Each package label list the ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and safety procedures.

Nylabones edible chews are excellent and made with high-quality ingredients, but they may not be the best treats for your dog. If you are looking for the best edible dog chews on the market, veterinarians suggest you choose … Read the rest

Are you interested in building a dog house for your pet? Do you want to have the best dog house out there? Then, probably you are interested to know the possible things you have to do as well as the different things you need to avoid when it comes to this. There are a lot of dog owners who have tried to make a dog house for their pet and this could be totally fun and enjoying at the same time especially if you truly love your pet.

Your dog would not be able to complain on the house you will make for them so you have to determine their own needs and preferences to be assured that they will be comfortable enough on the dog house you have prepared for them. In this article, you are going to know more about the different things you have to do and the different things you have to avoid to be assured that you will make the best dog house out there.

Things to Do

There are only some simple things that you have to do when making dog houses for your pet. This is important for you to know and understand as you would not want to have problems and bad experience as you start doing your tasks. The possible things you have to do include the following below:

Do know your dog more than anyone else. It is important that you will know the character of your dog as this could help you to easily determine the style and look of dog house best for you to make for him.

Do make researches for designs online. If you can’t come up with any ideas on the possible design you can make for the dog house then you are free to make use of the internet for that. There would be a lot for you to check and make sure to determine the most ideal for you.

Do know your own budget. This could be an investment for you to make so it is important to also know the budget you can spend in buying materials and other accessories needed for the dog house you will make.

Things to Avoid

On the other hand, there are also some things that you surely need to avoid when making dog houses. Some of those things are the following below:

Dogs seemed to have proven all throughout the years that they are indeed man’s best friends. They usually joined their owners in their travels and cuddle with them at home, to make sure that they are of the perfect companion any owner would ever have. With all these enjoyment and protection dogs have been giving you, and then maybe it’s time for you to give him some comforts that it needs. Why don’t you buy him a nice crate so that he can live comfortably – at the same time, for him to feel a glimpse of luxury all over his shoulders?

If your dog is one of the bigger breeds like a German Shepherd, Great Dane, and Rottweiler, then chances will be they will be squeezing you out of the bed so it’s better to have their own personal beds so that they can sleep well, leading them to a good run the next morning. This is where extra large, extra large dog beds come into picture.

The Importance of the Bed Size

A lot of big dogs are very much prone to joint problems, especially in their spines and hips and is not good for them to strain themselves because just like a human being, they can have some disease called osteoporosis. That’s why there are many dog beds which have orthopedic support so that they can protect their bones from breaking down. If you are looking for a good dog bed crate, like the K9 Ballistics tuff bed, then choose the ones that has side pockets, reinforced seams, locking mechanisms and among many other features so that it could not only give your dog comfort during his sleep but also in his travels. Help your dogs to relax properly so that all the joints and muscles were properly supported.

Additionally, dogs tend to bite off everything they see especially your living room sofa, so for more protection, it is always better to have a bed on his own so that he could cuddle with it as long as he wants. Because of his biting ability, it is important that you should get a stronger bed so that the bed can last for a long time.

Types Available

Extra Large beds vary in many shapes. In order for what the best shape your dog can fit into, choose designs first in the internet for you to … Read the rest

Just like us, it is also very important for our dogs to have their personal space which could make them comfortable most of the day and as an owner, we are very much responsible in providing that space to them by building a dog house that they can use. However, there could be different dog house designs for you to consider and choose from so make sure to know the different options you have to know the best for your dogs. In this article, you are going to determine the top 7 dog house designs that you should know.

# 1: Igloo Dog House

This kind of dog house is really common in countries where snow could be a part of their life already. If you are planning to own a dog that could stay in the snow and could live with it then this could be the perfect option for you to consider. This is commonly made with enough insulators that could help in protecting your dog and make them comfortable despite the cold outside.

# 2: Castle Dog House

If you have a female dog and would like her to feel like a princess then you can consider building a castle dog house for her. This is commonly based on the designs of the castles in the fairy tales and you would surely love it.

# 3: Large Dog House

Also, if your dog is really a large breed then it is best to get a large dog house whichis just enough to fit and accommodate your dog perfectly. Know the exact size of your dog and easily get to know the dog house which could be enough to make him totally comfortable.

# 4: Steel Dog House

There comes the steel dog house which is the most common options of many people who are interested in having a dog house that could be used for longer period of time. This is really perfect in Asian countries especially to those that are experiencing tropical weather. However, the steel may rusts as time passes by so make sure if it is really the best for you.

# 5: Farm Dog House

These kinds of dog house on the other hand are ideal to be used for those people who are living in the countryside. Surely, you would like to have a perfect dog house that could complement the style … Read the rest

What Exactly Is A Bark Collar?

A “bark collar” is an electronic collar used for controlling the frequency of a dog’s barking. Though they often serve their primary purpose, some trainers have acclimated the anti-bark collars to control dog behavior, or to keep them within an “invisible fence”. Although there are multiple varieties of these collars, the main four categories that exist within the reach of today’s veterinary technology are scent-, ultrasonic-, haptic-, and shock-based.

Static Bark Collar (Shock Collars)

Considered the most effective collar, static collars, better known as “shock” or “buzz” collars, emit a mild electronic zap when the dog barks too frequently, by using a static field.

Most products operate by detecting a sound within the dog’s barking frequency (some collars offer calibration to recognize the dog’s bark), and lightly shocking the neck of the dog to get it to stop wailing.

Often times, the technology of these collars revolves around an attempt to get the dog to recognize the beeping tone prior to the shock, usually a 30-second window, to serve as a reminder to stop before it brings the pain to the dog’s neck again.

So, if my Sheltie yapped and the beep was triggered, the device will wait for a set amount of time and “listen” for the dog to bark again. If she chooses to continue, then ZAP. If she keeps going, the magnitude of the shocking will increase until she ceases her racket.

Haptic Bark Collar (Vibrating Collars)

These types of collars vibrate ferociously when they detect the dog barking. They can be used to control certain behaviors based on the vibration (for example: triggering the collar when the pet doesn’t obey your “sit” command), which can have its magnitude adjusted according to the temperament of your hound.

While some of these can pack a very big vibrating punch, they tend not to work on pets with long hair and/or a thick coat. They’ve also been proven to be less effective on large animals as opposed to small ones. Really, which dog do you think would be affected more by the punch of vibration: a mastiff or a mini-dachshund?

Scented Bark Collar (Citronella Collars)

Scent-emitting collars work by blasting a light spray of a strong scent (typically Citronella) into the face of the animal. Dogs that tend to be more aggressive usually do not respond to the … Read the rest